Elite Prospects Hockey

 He was one of the best pure goal scorers with great hands during his days with the the Honeybaked 88 and California Wave 88 Teams. "I remember when I took over the Honeybaked 88 Team, I asked around the country who is the best goal scorer and everyone told me Jack Combs from St. Louis" recalls former Honeybaked 88 Coach Don Harkins. 

So the recruiting process began in luring Jack to Detroit to play for the Honeybaked 88 Team, and why would he leave? he had a great coach in St. Louis (Jeff Brown) and good players around him (Jimmy Martin (Yale), Pat Maroon (London)) to name a couple. "I knew of the Honeybaked name as being a top AAA Organization and Donnie really wanted me to play for him and I thought the Team would be good" stated Combs. I think back on all of the great players we had on that 88 Team and Jack was one of them" added Harkins.

There was no difference 4 years ago between Harkins 3 top players, Peter Mueller, Pat Kane and Jack Combs, there is a big difference now as Mueller (Phoenix Coyotes) and Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) are staring in the NHL as rookies and Combs is finally, after three less than productive years in the OHL, is having a great year with GP 42 Goals 29 Assists 39 and points 68 as of 1/17/08. "I remember a game in Pittsburgh when jack was having an uninspired game and I had sat him for most of the game for what I remember a lack of effort" recalls Harkins. "We were losing 2-1 at the time with about .54 remaining, I turned to Jack and asked him if he was done letting his teammates down by me having to sit him, so I put him out there with our goalie pulled and he and Peter Mueller finished off a 2-1 with Jack scoring to tie the game 2-2, and with .08 seconds he scored again to win the game 3-2, he had that kind of scoring ability, he was always a scoring threat" said Harkins. "Jack and Pat Kane were fun to watch on a line together" added Harkins. "I remember when we won the prestigeous K.I.B.I.H.T (Kamloops Bantam) Tournament those two (Kane & Combs) put on a clinic, finishing the Tournament 1-2 in scoring. "I am not surprised at the kind of season Jack is having, I am just surprised it has taken him until now (his 4th in the OHL) to put up the numbers that warrants his scoring ability and skill level. Hopefully someday Jack can join his former Honeybaked teammates in the NHL. "I know I will be rooting for him, we spent three great years together during those formidable teenage years and it always wasn't easy and hopefully those life lessons will pay off for Jack" added Harkins.